Tractor two-row planter attachment



Sept. 12, 1944. c. T. RAY

TRACTOR TWO-ROW PLANTER ATTACHMENT Filed Jan. 14, 1941 2 Sheets-Shet 1CHARLES T. RAY

C. T. RAY

TRACTOR TWO-ROW P LANTER ATTACHMENT Filed Jan. 14, 1941 Sept. 12, 1944.2,357,849

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 awe/whom CHARLES T. RAY

Ural/m Patented Sept. 12, 1944- TRACTOR TWO-ROW PLANTER ATTACHIVIEN TCharles T. Ray, Louisville, Ky assignor to B. F.

Avery and Sons Company, Louisville, Ky., a

corporation of Delaware Application January 14, 1941, Serial No. 374,39519 Claims. (01. 11-1 59)' This invention relates to planters and hasparticular relation to those planters wherein two-row planter unitattachments may be attached to a tractor.

The present invention involves a two-row planter which has carryingwheels and which is designed to be pulled by a tractor. It has for itsprimary object the provision of an improved tworow planter of thisgeneral type and of attachments for connecting it to a tractor andoperating it by power derived from the tractors forward movement.

Another object of the invention" is the provision of an improved tractortwo-row planter and attachment wherein the true draft principle isapplied to pulling the planter from the tractor in a manner in which'avehicle is'pulle'd by a draft animal.

A further object of the invention is the provision of such a two-rowplanter wherein is provided a draft bar or frame means connected at itsforward end to the tractor andat its rearward end to the planter in suchamanner that a sudden J'erk of the tractor either in going faster orslower will not tilt the planter either to a forward or backwardposition relative to its normal position.

Another and still further object of the invention is the provision of atractor two-row planter attachment with means'provided'for lifting bothends of the planter clear of the ground by a single operating means whenthe operatingmeans is moved in one direction and when moved in the otherdirection to place yielding pressure on a rearward portion of theplanter.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a check-row-tractorplanter whereinthe draft is applied in such a manner'as to not affectthe planting mechanism as the tractor goes over rough ground.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of an improvedplanter wherein the draftattachment is applied on a line passingsubstantially through the center of gravity.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an improvedtractor attached planter wherein pressure may be applied directlythrough springs to a portion of the main planter frame which pressure isonly indirectly applied to the rear supporting wheels and the forwardsupporting depth gage means whether it be of the wheel or shoe type.

Other and further objects of the invention will be apparent to thoseskilled in the art from a reading of the complete specification andclaims.

In this specification, a check-row planter for planting two rows will bedescribed but it is to be'understood that the invention applies to othertypes of planters for planting a plurality, of rows at the same time.

Referring to the drawings wherein is illustrated an'embodiment of theinvention,

Fig. l is a side view of atractor with the invention attached thereto,parts being omitted'and other parts broken away for purposes of clear-,ness' of illustration.

' of Fig. 1.

Figs. 4 and 5 are perspective views of different types of depth gaugeshoes.

Fig. 6 is a detail fragmental view of the adjusting device for the depthgauge means.

- Figs. 7 and 8 are detail views.

In the specification and drawings, the same reference characters areused todesignate the same or similar parts.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, 310 designates the frame of atractor having an engine 3| I a gasoline tank 3|2, a water reservoir 3l3for aradiator behind the grille 3. Forward and beneath the frame 3") isa steering wheel unit which is controlled through suitable and wellknown worm and ge'armechanis'm (not shown) by the steering wheel 3l4aand its shaft 3l5 On the rear portion of the frame'is a seat 3l6 whichis occupied by the operative when the tractor is in use. Rear wheels 3|!are provided, which support the rear portions of the tractor and providethe traction withthei ground. These wheels 3|! are driven throughsuitable transmission mechanism from-the engine 3| I. In Fig. 1, thenear rear wheel has been omitted.

The present invention relates-to check row and other types of two-rowplanters an'd isdes'igned for use with and for attachment to a tractor.While the method a-ndm'eans of attachment-provide for ample free andunhampered tractor movement in a vertical plane when the: planter is inoperation, the planter itself issuppliedwith its own ground-engagingsupporting means, which carry the weight of the planter and" itscoacting parts and furnish the power for operating the planter device,derived from the forward movement of the tractor which pullsthe planter.

The planter itself herein described is in general somewhat similar tosome of the conventional tive trunnion rings 31.

, The principles upon which invention o-pei ates are those of the truedraft which has always been sought by the farmer. With the animalpulling the implement forward and slightly uia wardly, the farmerthrough the handles applies the necessary downward pressure on the rearportion of the frame to maintain proper working engagement with theground.

Applying these principles to the tractor-at tached planter, the planterhas its ground-engage ing supporting means close to the ground openingimplement and is permitted to move up and down with the irregularitiesof the ground as the tractor pulls it forward and by suitable downwardlypressing means, maintains proper contact with the ground. All this willnow be'desoribed in detail. I

Secured to each side of the forward end of the tractor frame 310 arebearing bracket-brace plates 20. Secured to the frame 2| of the fender22 is the rear end of a draft frame member 23, the forward end of whichis secured to a draft shaft or rod 24 at its outer end by the bearingmember 25. A small bracket 26 is secured to the end of the rod 24 towhich is secured one end of a brace rod 21. The inner end of the bracerod 21 is secured to another small bracket 28 mounted on the plate 20.

Extending across the main frame 3|6 is a square shaft 29 mounted torotate in a suitable bearing plate 30 on the left side of the machineand a quadrant plate'3l on the right side of the machine. Rigidlymounted on the shaft 29 is a lifting lever 32 which is provided with theusual grip latch lever 32a which controls the usual latch device 321)for coaction with the notches of the quadrant 3| to hold the lever 32and the shaft 29 in their respective adjusted positions. The outer endsof the shaft 29 are journaled in suitable bearings 35 mounted on thedraft frame members 23.

Adjacent the outer ends of the square shaft 29 and rigidly securedthereto are quadrants 38 which have coacting bearings 38a for pivotalsupport of the respective pressure adjusting levers 39. At the outer endof the levers 39 are a pair 'of arms 390. between which aremountedrespec- Also mounted on the outer arms 39 are hooks 39b for apurpose'to be later described. 7 V

In the illustrated embodiment of my invention there is a check rowtwo-planter unit, one planter being on each side of the planter frame.Pivoted on the draft rod or shaft 24 and at each side of the tractor isa bearing member 40 rigidly secured to draft rods 4|, which with thebearing member 46 form a frame. The draft rods 4| are provided at theirrear ends with a pivot member 4|a which is pivotally mounted tolongitudinal members 42 of a main planter frame. On the forward end ofthe frame members 42 and having bearings for the pivot member 4|a aremounted plate brackets 43' to which is rigidly secured a square crossframe member 44. Rearwardly of and parallel to the square cross framemember 44 is a second transverse frame member 44a. On each side of thecenter of each of the planter mechanisms is secured, on the frame member44, a spindle 45 which at its lower end there is carried an opener disk46. These spindles 45 are secured in place by adjustable clamps so thatvertical horizontal and angular adjustments of the opener disks may bemade. In Fig. l, the near opener disk has been omitted for clear,- ness.

At the forward end of the frame is secured V the forward ground engagingsupporting member. As illustrated, it is a depth gauge shoe 41 having aturned up forward end. A slit 41a (see Fig. 5) is provided toaccommodatea colter wheel 48. Two upstanding plates 41b are secured, one on eachside of the slit and are provided with bearings for the pivot pin 41e. Apair of supporting arms 49 are pivoted on the pivot pin 41c and carry alocking bolt 49a which passes through V the arcuate slots 41d of theplates 41?). By loosening the bolt 4%, the shoe 41 may be moved aboutthe pivot pin 41e in a vertical plane to secure .the desired adjustment.

shoe 41, it makes a fiat plane path while the shoe I41 leaves anelongated mound of perfect contour but with the sides packed slightlymore than the top of the mound.

At the rear of the 'slit of the shoe 41 is the center of the groundworking implement which in the illustration is a furrow opener 56 whichat its forward upper end has a pivot pin 50a and an arcuate slot 5%. Abolt 49b passes through the slot 5% and secures the upper end of thepair of arms 49 in adjusted position. The arm 49 has a slot 490 whichpermits of vertical adjustment (see Fig. 6).

The furrow opener 50 is secured at its forward and rear ends to the mainframe 42.

One the frame 3) of the tractor is a bracket 53 to which a fertilizerattachment is secured.

This fertilizer attachment (not shown) is driven from the shaft 54 andthe sprocket wheel 55 which is connected to sprocket wheel 56 by asprocketchainfnot shown). A boot 51 to which the fertilizer attachmentis connected, is provided to guide the fertilizer to its place in thefurrow. In the interest ofclearness, the fertilizer attachment has beenomitted as per se it is not a part of theinvention. V v r The splitwheels 58 mounted on the shaft 58a drive a sprocket wheel 59 whichcarries a chain 59a which drives, through sprocket 60a, a planteroperating shaft 60. The ends of the shaft6l| are connected to andoperate the planter mechanism of the planter 6| as indicated in Fig. l.

In the rear ends of the frame 42 are openings 62 in which the lower endsof. the rods 63 are pivoted. An adjustable ring.64 on the rod. 63'regulates the lower end of the spring 65. The upper ends of the springs65 bear against the rings 31 (see Fig. 2) while the upper ends of therods 63 pass freely between limits through the rings 31. A chain 69 is.connected detachably at its upper end to the hook 39b and at its lowerend to a lifting lever 61 which lever is pivoted at 61a to the-forwardportion of the frame. The forward arm of the lever 61 has a projectingpin 68 which bears on the draftframe member tionas the chain 69 operatesthe lever 61, the pin 18 eventually contacts the. draft bar 4|. Furthermovement results in lifting the front end of the planter bodily.

If it is'desired to have the lever 61 merely act as a lifting plate andnot as a lever it is n'eces sary only to put a bolt through the openings42a and 61d, then holding the two members 42 and 6'! rigid relative toeach other. In this case any lifting action on the part of the chain 69'will lift the front end of the planter bodily.

The main frame of the planter is provided withtwo fore-and-aft framemembers 440 which connect the forward frame member 44 with the rearframe member 44a; On these frame members 440 are located bearings whichsupport the shaft 68 already described. Also mounted on the framemembers 440 are bearing lugs 44d which support a pivot pin to which ispivoted the longitudinal members ll of the rear frame. The twolongitudinal rear frame members H pivotally secured to the main frame attheir forward ends and to the axle housing 12' in which is the axle 58a,form a, rear pivoted frame which is supported by the wheels 58. Asprocket 12' is mounted on the shaft 58 and is used to drive the windupspool (not shown) which carries the check row wire when in transport.

At the ends of the frame members 44 and 44a is located, at each side ofthe machine, a check row operating mechanism of any suitable or wellknown construction having tripping jaws l3 pivoted on the end of theshaft 14, to receive the wire 15 and permit the buttons 15a. to, throughthe tripping jaws l3, oscillate the shaft 14 to operate the planter in awell known manner as the buttons, placed at the proper interval, passthrough the trippin device. the check row device are old and Well knownin I the art and since this device is per so not a part of thisinvention, a recitation of further details of its construction andoperation will be omitted.

To insure th position of the pivoted frame members 40 in their positionson the draft bar 24, the locking rings 40a are provided to hold thepivoted draft frame members 42 in their adjusted positions.

The operation of the invention as a whole will now be described. Asillustrated in Fig. 1,

the lever 32 is in a position where if it is lowered, the whole planterwill be raised and if the lever 32' is raised, the planter will belowered sothat the furrow opener 58 and the colter wheel 48 will enterthe ground.

If it is desired to operate the planter, the lever 32 is raised. Thisrevolves the shaft 29 toward the front, lowering the outer ends of thelifting arms 39a and'the outer lifting ends of the levers 39. The chain69 becomes slack and the draft bar-4| pivoted-on the draft rod 24assumes control of the forward movement of the planter. It will beobserved that the pivotal axis of the rear end, of the draft bar 4| issubstantially on a line from the center of gravity of the frame 42 andthe parts it carries, to the axis of the draft rod.24. This is thepreferred embodiment, for

As the details of.

the disk openers 46. Thispress'wheel also operates the planter throughthe shaft 58a. sprocket 59, chain 58a, sprocket 68a, and shaft 60 in theusual and wel1 known manner.

If it is desired to move the parts to transport position, the lever 32is moved rearwardly. This causes the adjustable heads on the rods 63 tocontact the trunnion rings 31. Further movement of the lever 32, liftsthe rear ends of the frames 42-, at the same time, the chain 69'operates the lever 61, to first lift the front endof the frame 42 andthe whole planter is lifted bodily in a vertical plane, the draft barframe 40, swin about the draft rod 24 as acenter.

When the planting operation is taking place, the forward and rearwardground engaging supporting means as the depth gauge shoe 4! and thesplit wheel 5%, determine the movement of the sword opener 58 and itscoacting parts while the flexibility of the frame members 44, 44a, takecare of slight differences in the ground in the two rows.

' To assist in the lifting of the planters, counterbalance devices areprovided. On the shaft 29'are two downwardly extending arms 5'6 having'links H to which counterbalance springs 18 are attached. At the otherends of the springs 18 are attached chains 19 which are wound on theratchet shaft held in place with a suitable dog 8|.

When the planting operation is being carried out, pressure on the rearends of the frame may be exerted by movin the lever 32 upwardly and tothe front. This action causes the trunnion rings 3'! to press downwardlyon the springs to, in turn, cause the rods 63 to press downwardly on therear of the frame 42;

A differential in pressure between the sides may be had by adjustingeither or both of the auxiliary pressure adjusting levers 39. It is tobe noted, however, that whenever the lever 32 is moved, the pressure onboth s des of the planter frame is varied While the differential inpressure between the two sides is maintained;

When it is desired to adjust the planters laterally with relation to thetractor, the locking ring 480, on the rod 24 is released and the bearingmembers 4!] moved to the desired position. The locking'ring; 46a is thenresecured.

It is to be noted that th front and rear frames are pivoted togethersubstantially on the transverse center line of the planter. Plate 80 onthe frame members 1| carry springs, 8| which are held in compressionbetween a lug on the plate 80 and the head of a bolt secured to the mainor forward frame by the lug 8'12; The action of the spring 8| tends toraise the planter. Under control of the levers 39 and the spring 65, acounteraction to the springs 8| is set up. This counteraction varieswith the adjusted position of the lever 39 and controls the resilientpressure of the press wheel on the ground.

While I have illustrated and described in detail my invention, it is tobe understood that disclosure is merely illustrative and thatmodifications and changes may be made without departing from the spiritof the invention and within its scope as claimed.

Having described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A tractor planter attachment havin a frame means, a pair of plantingdevices, a pair of relatively rigidly mounted ground opening devices,forward and rear ground engaging supporting means for carrying theentire weight of the ground opening devices when in operation, the

forward supporting means being immediately forward of the opening meansand draft means pivoted to the frame means at its rearward end betweenthe forward and rear ground engaging sup-,

porting means and having its forward end connected to the tractor forfree relative pivotal movement in a vertical plan relative to thetractor and frame.

2. A tractor planter attachment having a frame, a planting device, aground opening device, ground engaging means for supporting the groundopening device and carryin its weight, including ground engaging meansforward of and rearward of the ground opening means, and a draft meanspivoted to the frame at its rearward end between the forward andrearground engaging supporting means and having its forward endconnected to the tractor, for free relative pivotal movement in avertical plane relative to the tractor and frame.

' 3. A tractor planter attachment having a frame means, a pair ofplanting devices, a pair of relatively rigidly mounted ground openingdevices, forward and rear ground engaging supporting means for carryinthe entire weight of the ground opening devices when in operation, theforward supporting means being immediately forward of the opening. meansand draft means pivoted to the frame means at its rearward end betweenthe forward and rear ground engaging sup portingmeans and having itsforward end connected to the tractor, for free relative pivotal movementin a vertical plane relative to the tractor and frame, the draft meansbeing secured.

to the forward end of the tractor.

4. A tractor planter attachment having a frame means, a pair of plantingdevices, a pair of relatively rigidly mounted ground opening devices,forward and rear ground engaging supportmeans clear of the groundsurface for transport.

5. A tractor planter attachment having a frame means, a pair of plantingdevices, a pair of relatively rigidly mounted ground opening devices,forward and rear ground engaging supporting means for carrying theentire weight of the ground opening devices when in operation, theforward supporting means being immediately forward of the opening meansand draft means pivoted to the frame means at its rearward end betweenthe forward and rear ground engaging.

supporting means and having its forward end connected to the tractor forfree relative pivotal movement relative to the tractor and frame and asingle manually controlled means for lifting the planting devices andground engaging supporting means clear of the ground surface totransport position.

6. A tractor planter attachment having a frame means, a pair of plantingdevices, a pair of relatively rigidly mounted ground opening devices,forward and rear ground engaging supporting means for carrying. theentire weight of the ground opening devices when in operation, theforward supporting means being immediately forward of the opening meansand a pair of independently pivoted draft means pivotally connected eachby a single pivot at its forward ends to the tractor and at its rearends by a single pivot to the planter frame means and between theforward and rear ground engaging supporting means. 7 r

7. A tractor planter attachment comprising a forward frame, a rearwardframe, a planter means, pivotal means connecting the frames together,resilient connecting means between the frames to normally hold theplanter means in an elevated position and freely vertically moving draftmeans for connecting one of the frames to atractor.

8. A tractor planter attachment comprising a I forward frame, a rearwardframe, a planter means, pivotal means connecting the frames together,resilient connecting means between the frames to normally hold theplanter means in an elevated position and adjustable mean forcounter-action against th resilient means and freely vertically movingdraft means for connecting one of the frames to a tractor.

9. A tractor planter attachment comprising a forward frame, a rearwardframe, a planter means, pivotal means connecting the frames together,resilient connecting mean between the frames to normally hold theplantermeans in an elevated position and manually controlled adjustableresilient means for counter-action against the resilient connectingmeans and freely vertically moving draft means for connecting one of theframes to a tractor.

10. 1A tractor planter attachment comprisin a forward frame, a groundworking member mounted thereon, a rearward frame, aplanter means 7supported by the frames, pivotal means between the frames, resilientconnection means tending to raise the planter means, a press wheel sup-Y porting means for one of the frames, a manually 7 controlledadjustable means for counter-action against the resilient connectionmeans to force the ground working member of the planter into I theground and freely vertically moving draft 4 111163115 for connecting oneof the frames to a tractor.

11. A tractor planter attachment comprising a forward frame, a groundworkin member mounted thereon, a rearward frame, a planter means 50",supported by the frames, pivotal means between the frames, resilientconnection means tending to raise the planter means, a press wheelsupporting means for one of the frames and a manually controlledadjustable means for counter-ac- 1 tion against the resilient connectionmeans to force the ground working member of the planter into the groundand draft means for connecting one of theplanter frames to the tractorincluding freely vertically moving pivotal means to 1 give free bodilymovement to the forward. end of the attachment relative to the tractor.

12. A tractor planter attachment having a frame means, a pair ofrelatively rigidly mounted planting devices, a pair of ground openingdevices, ground engaging supporting means for carrying the entire weightof the ground opening devices when in operation, freely verticallymoving draft means for permitting bodily movement of V the forward endof the planter frame means relative to the tractor, a lever meanscoacting between the draft means and frame means for raising the latterand a hand controlled means for operating the lever means.

13. A tractor planter attachment having a frame, a planting device, aground opening means, freely vertically moving draft means for pullingthe planter attachment from a tractor, lifting lever means for coactionbetween the draft means and planter frame and a hand-controlled meansfor operating the lever means.

14. A tractor planter attachment having a frame, a planting device, afreely vertically moving draft means for pulling the planter attachmentfrom a tractor, lifting lever means for coaction between the draft meansand planter frame, manually operable means connected to the lever forlifting the planter and means for rendering the lever inactive as alever and applying the action of the manual operable means to the frame.

15. A tractor planter attachment having a frame means, a pair ofrelatively rigidly mounted planting devices, a pair of ground openingdevices, ground engaging supporting means for carrying the entire weightof the ground opening devices when in operation, draft means pivoted tothe frame means at its rearward end for free vertical movement of theplanting devices at their forward ends and to the tractor at its forwardend forfree pivotal movement relative to the tractor and frame and asingle means for varying the pressure of the frame and the plantingdevices toward the ground.

16. A tractor planter attachment having a frame means, a pair ofrelatively rigidly mounted planting devices, a pair of ground openingdevices, ground engaging supporting means for carrying the entire weightof the ground opening devices when in operation, draft means pivoted tothe frame means at its rearward end and to the tractor at its forwardend and for free pivotal movement of the forward ends of the plantingdevices relative to the tractor and frame, and means for independentlyexerting pressure on the frame means adjacent to the respectiveplanters.

17. Atractor planter attachment having a twosection frame hingedtogether, a planter means mounted on the frame, resilient means fornormally holding the planter in a raised position, ground engagingsupporting means including a split press wheel in line of travel of theplanter,

operating connections between the press wheel and planter, draft meansfor connecting the attachment to a tractor to provide free bodilymovement up and down to the forward end of th attachment relative to thetractor when the attachment is in operation.

1 8. A tractor planter attachment having a twosection frame hingedtogether, a planter means mounted on the frame, resilient means fornormally holding the planter in a raised position, ground engagingsupporting means including a split press wheel in line of travel of theplanter, operating connections between the ress wheel and planter, draftmeans for connecting the attachment to a tractor to provide free bodilymovement up. and down to the forward end of the attachment relative tothe tractor when the attachment is in operation and means on the tractorto lift the attachment bodily off the ground.

19. A tractor planter attachment comprising a planter means, a two-partpivoted frame for supporting the planter, ground engaging supportingmeans including a press wheel attached to one of the frame parts, amanually controlled resilient means for pressing the other framedownwardly, resilient means between the frames to counteract the actionof the manually controlled resilient means and freely vertically movingdraft means for connecting one of the frames to a tractor.

CHARLES T. RAY.

